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January 2014

Ski friend newsletter january 2015

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Page 1: Ski friend newsletter january 2015

January 2014

Page 2: Ski friend newsletter january 2015

Glen BolesThose of you who know Glen will be interested to learn he has been honoured by his home town for a life of mountaineering and for service to Cochrane.

Whitehorn Lodge Many people remember the lodge when it was vital to the operation of the mountain. Before the construction of Lodge of the Ten Peaks, Whitehorn Lodge was packed with skiers during lunch time. Just out the door, the double poma lifts would take skiers to Eagle Ridge. Renovations have been made to transform it.

Philosophy of Hosting VisitorsWhen approaching our task, first start with the end in mind. What are we trying to accomplish? What should we discuss to set up an enjoyable conversation and adapt ourselves to the group.

News from RobCoordinators’s Report

Grizzly Bear InfoUse some of this information to entertain your guests.

Avalanche AwarenessAgain, Ski Friends participated in the New Years Eve party at the hill.

Contents

Page 5 Honours Whitehorn Lodge Page 7

Page 10 Executive NewsPage 3 Philosophy

Page 4 Grizziy Sleep

Page 1

Page 12 Avalanches

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ContentsThe grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) is a circumpolar mammal and a subspecies of brown bear (Ursus arctos) that migrated from Eurasia approximately 50,000 years ago. The grizzly appellation is due to the gray or white hair which gives them a grizzled appearance. Grizzlies are also nicknamed silvertip for the silvery, grizzly sheen in the fur. Colour can be white and blond to shades of brown and black. Besides a large size and a nose more bluntly shaped than that of a black bear, the distinctive feature is a hump over the front withers. Visitors unfamiliar with the two species have difficulty distinguishing between the two but with a few sightings identification becomes easy.  

Europeans visiting the ski area, summer or winter, are fascinated by bears and particularly by grizzly bears. And grizzly bears are fascinated by Europeans. Tucking into a little Mediterranean cuisine keeps bears healthy and, oh so satisfied. (Bears do not believe in the

continued on page 2

Cochrane has recognized Glen Boles for a lifetime of service and achievement. The Glen Boles riverside trail terminates with a view of the Rockies- a fitting tribute. I discovered that Glen is my kind of guy. He loves real adventure. Others think an all inclusive with swim up bar to be adventure. Rather than getting up

to put a towel on a beach lounger, Glen would already be ascending a trail while burdened with a climbing pack. All his life is filled with his love of adventure and with his passion for nature. Follow his example. Don’t wait for retirement.

If you know Glen, read more on page 5

Honours for Glen Boles

AMAZING VIEWS: The ski area is on the least rocky of the area mountains(all right in early season it seems as rocky) and we get to gaze in wonder at the spectacular 360° views of the areas “truly rocky” mountains

LIPALIAN MOUNTAIN: The Larch ski area is where the first skiing in the area occurred and where the first rope tow ski lift was located.

BASE LODGES AT THE LAKE LOUISE SKI AREA: Two of four area lodges- Lodge of the Ten Peaks on the right (east) and Whiskey Jack Lodge on the left (west).

SKI FRIENDS

LAKE LOUISE SKI FRIENDS JANUARY 2014

JP Gagnon- photographer

JP Gagnon- photographer

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by Jan Gehrke

• • •We talk about them. They are a true and unending resource when the subject is themselves. Questions I use:

I like to find out what brought them here, what they had heard about Lake Louise, Canadian resorts, the Rockies, Canada.

This gives lots of opportunity to add pieces of fact, knowledge and interest bits that add to what they already know.

Where they like to ski and what their best ski holiday has been?

I have them describe what made the holiday so good and why the area is so memorable. I can add some common experiences if I have been there; that’s fine common ground to share. If not, I have them tell me what made it so good. If they tell me it was the never-ending runs at Vail I can introduce the idea that we have some comparable terrain and when we ski Outer limits to the bottom, we have some background established to have them remember us. Pika, around, down, up to Lookout, down, up to upper Meadows and to the bottom via Deer Run and Wiwaxy is a remarkable distance for upper beginner skiers. There is so much conversation food here that in a morning tour you may never get past their history of great ski holidays. That’s ok, skiers travel to have new experiences on new terrain to meet new people and to talk about their past. I remind them of their present holiday with identification of our landmarks, how they represent our history, why our natural environment is protected ……the conversation is endless and connected on each chair ride.

Where they are staying while they are here?

It’s a great opening for making suggestions about what to see and do after the ski day, restaurants they might enjoy, other activities they might enjoy if they take a ski day off.

What they do besides ski?

This is really helpful if a beginner, intermediate skier is having trouble and you can relate their other sport or interest and tie in some comparables. ie. If they love to ride a bike, you have to stay square with the road to get anywhere, same theory applies to skiing, stay square with the mountain to make progress. If they are quite sedentary, your tour is going to honour that; pace, distance, stopping time, frequency and duration.

Talking about what they love about their place somehow makes them feel warmer and more comfortable in our place. This is especially true if we are sincerely interested. I sometimes feel as though I have gone there in conversation. What a bonus to travel the world and never leave my own ski place!!!

I think you get the gist. We don’t have to have our place stripped down to facts, dates and geology. We do have to have good general knowledge to share so that our wait times have interest, is timely and doesn’t last too long. (Lake Louise means more when you are looking at it from Paradise lift top, you can see it’s glacier feed, appreciate the CPR’s history of building, note the Divide, talk about roadways railways etc.)

I want them to have a sense of our appreciation of their visit. I want them to go away knowing more about our place through their experience of it more than from my chatter about it. I want them to remember us for our true hospitality. They are more than skiers, they are individuals with a wealth of personal history. I like to tap that and have them feel as though they have really been here, body,mind and spirit.

Small talk with Strangers (future friends)

1. Where are you staying

2. Is your weather different

3. Was the bus crowded

4. Are you with friends

5. What runs this morning

6. How did you travel here

7. How is the food

8. Did you hire a car

8. Favourite ski run(piste)

FROM THE EDITORSPeople love to talk about their favourite subject: themselves. Travel has good and bad experiences and if it happened in the last couple of days, you have your topic. The closer to the present the better. Life trivia seems like forgettable nonsense to most people, but to the person involved; what has happened in the recent past is

important. Everyone has a life story and we have to find out what that story is.

Questions

continued on pg 5

Destination: Lake Louise

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Grizzly Bears Cont. from page 1

100 mile diet.) Adding a certain cachet to Canada, these mythical creatures of native lore are part of our wilderness mystique. Europeans have not had encounters with bears for a long time if one discounts the odd bear in a zoo. When a bear nicknamed “Bruno” wandered into Austria a few years ago, it was reported on the international media but his tenure was tenuous and in a few weeks hunters took care of that. So much for wilderness in most of Europe (and they complain about seals). Europeans do not meet -nor want to meet bears- and with few wild bears in Europe the result is European hiking trails are crowded like Riley Park on a sunny summer day. We have bears to thank for keeping the backcountry quiet and sparsely populated. Yeah for bears.  As Ski Friends we deal with those curious but timidly cautious Europeans who travel in winter to avoid bear encounters of the bad kind. Travelling in winter makes Euros feel safe because bears hibernate: but not so. Bears do not truly hibernate. They are only dormant in a winter sleep; the metabolic rate and body temperature are not low enough for hibernation. Picking up a true hibernator (ground squirrel) will not arouse or disturb the animal. Try that with a bear. Volunteers? Since bears only ‘winter sleep’ it is possible to be out and about in the back country and see tracks during a warm winter spell.  Also not a good idea to crawl into their den and give them a swift kick in the butt.  They will wake up and could be grouchy. Certain husbands don’t like to be awakened that way either. Rock Garden and Elevator Shaft are possible den areas for grizzlies. When touring through Rock Garden ask visitors to talk softly and when they ask why, tell them they may be (or ARE) standing on top of a sleeping

grizzly. It focusses attention. After that they will be happy to travel in the middle of the herd.

 A nordic trail in the Pipestone area west of the area boundary and visible from Windy Gap is closed this season due to a female grizzly denned in the vicinity. When skiers travel near a den, the sow may be disturbed which could affect the survival of next season’s cubs. Besides, who wants to meet two to four inch curved claws attached to a distraught 300 to 440 lb. sow or a 400 to 800 lb. boar standing 3 to 4 feet high when on all four paws and 6 to 7 feet when rearing rampant on hind legs. Add to that a top speed of almost 50 km an hour over short distances. Not to worry- snow slows them down. Fortunately they are a little lethargic if out during winter. Females den earlier than males.  Occasionally they ‘hibernate’ even in late October.  One possible reason for that is female bears are great mothers.  Males predate on the young.  Mothers may want to get their young out of the way as fall is rather a feeding frenzy for bears and they get more aggressive while looking for food. In mid to late November and occasionally early December, males begin ‘hibernation’.  Possible reasons are they are on a kill

or have found a dead animal.  Could the bear be a teenager? – You know how hard it is to get them to bed.

And now for something grizzly. Don’t watch this late at

night.👣

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Tfq6dARGk

by R. Wagers, P. Haney (bear warrior) and

contribution from Bev Horn

Did you know?A grizzly bear can smell 7 times better than a bloodhound, and 2,100 times better than a human. They don’t like the smell of mothballs. Note to self- Always carry mothballs.

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A Lifetime of Adventure, Art, and Community Service

GLENBirth: St.Stephen, New Brunswick

Residences: Moved to Calgary in 1953. Now lives in Cochrane

First Climb: 1957

Climbing career: 1960 began serious climbing

Mountain Ranges St Elias Range of the Yukon and Alaska, the Alps of Europe and extensively in the Rockies and the Interior Ranges of British Columbia

Skiing: cross country skiing, ski mountaineering as well as downhill skiing

Mountain Service: Mountain Rescue, Canadian Ski Patrol System and Ski Friends program at the Lake Louise ski area

Author: "Glen Boles My Mountain Album" and co-author of “Place Names of the Canadian Mountains”

Affiliations: Honorary Member of the Alpine Club of Canada, the American Alpine Club and the Calgary Mountain Club

A RICH AND PASSIONATE LIFE OF ADVENTURE, CREATIVITY AND SERVICEOn first meeting Glen, his rich and passionate life is not revealed. His quiet, self-effacing and humble nature conceals amazing accomplishments which can instruct us all. Fortunately, since he was- until this season- a long-term Ski Friend, many of us know him and a little of his background. This always adventurous man expresses his creativity through sketching, painting, and photographing.

What can he teach us?

1) Choose experiences over stuff and people over things. Serve others. During art show setup, Glen is there helping others move art and set up displays. He is the guy who is there at the end of the day doing cleanup. 2)Don’t try to spend your way to happiness through stuff; spend on experiences and other people rather than on buying “things” which only temporarily give the illusion of

happiness. Compare Glen’s happiness from climbing and experiencing  mountains life to buying a succession of larger and larger electronic hardware. Someone always has a bigger and better TV. Money only buys happiness if you invest in experiences and people. What do you want said of your life- that you went to an all-inclusive resort or that you climbed mountains, travelled with friends and family, and were a Ski Friend etc. I know my answer.

Half the joy is anticipation

Think of the joy of planning and anticipating those 600 summit climbs. Not everyone wants to climb mountains but there are other experiences awaiting everyone who pursues them. Glen’s example is mirrored by so many Ski Friends who experience life. When I hear of Ski Friends’ hiking trips, cycling trips, climbing trips and any trip imaginable, I am inspired just as I am inspired by Glen since I admire those values. I want to expand some, to incorporate some, and to aspire to others.

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Glen Boles continued from page 1

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AROUND ABOUT: RESORT TRIVIA

Do you recognize this symbol? It has been around the Lake Louise Ski Area for a long time. You walk by it often.

Whitehorn elevation 8650f

Ski Acres 4200

Backcountry Lodge Skoki

On mountain lodges 4

Cafeteria, lounge,dining room, sandwich bar

R e n o v a t e d W h i t e h o r n Lodge

IN THE NEWS

THE WISHING WELL WAITING FOR MORE SNOW TO WELCOME VISITORS IN JANUARY

ICiCLES FROM WHISKEYJACK LODGE

Guests will once again be looking at this sign on the deck of the renovated Whitehorn Lodge. Before the building of The Lodge of the Ten Peaks, Whitehorn Lodge was a busy, popular place. Once Again.

LAKE LOUISE in the NEWS

From the Calgary Herald• • •

Lake Louise Ski Resort recently scooped some lofty bragging rights.

 It was voted the Best Ski Resort in Canada.  It was also included in the top three Best Overall Ski Resorts in the World.  Referred to as the “Oscars of the Travel Industry” the World Ski Awards are part of the World Travel Awards, held in Kitzbuhel, Austria.

 Lake Louise was in good company for the best overall in the world award.  Deer Valley in Park City, Utah and Val Thorens in the French Alps-the highest

ski resort in Europe, were No. 1 and No. 2

respectively.

From Ski Canada

• • •Having only broad piste maps and sketchy signage

to navigate European resorts, Brits are always chuffed (NOTE for Canadians-this is a good thing) by Canada’s ski hosts and helpful greeters-a sharp contrast to Meribel or Chamonix, where (service) is aloof at best and the French Ski School has been successful at banning British ski guides provided by tour operators despite both countries belonging to the EU.

Brits are in heaven by orderly queue management in North America-and indeed, the often lack of lines-especially after the traumas of lift line warfare in Europe during February school holidays. They are also unaccustomed to friendly locals after skiing in over-subscribed and increasingly Russian-dominated European destinations.

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IN THE WHITEHORN LODGE

Work is progressing on the Whitehorn Lodge. Plastering was a main task when I visited on December 17.

View of the back wall

Work is progressing on the Whitehorn Lodge. Plastering was a main task when I visited on December 17.

Looking out over Ski Racks

View towards old lift station wall.

Approval for the Whitehorn Lodge occurred in October and the restaurant opened at Christmas. As you can see, on December 17 there was still considerable work to complete. Work is continuing on the lower level. After so many years, it will be great to see people in the lodge enjoying the view.

SOUP AND SALAD

Soup $10

Salad $11

STARTERS

Wings $16

Calamari $16

Pistachio Baked Goat Cheese $15

Game Platter for two $24

Cheese Fondue for two $26

MAIN COURSE

Pulled pork Sandwich $16

Bison Burger $18

Vegetable Panini $16

Lamb Stew $15

COCKTAILS

$6.85

HOT DRINKS

$6.85

BEFORE

AFTER

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Whitehorn Deck comes alive once

again

• • •

This weekend the Whitehorn Lodge deck will once again come alive. The Ice Bar will add to the Lake Louise Ice Magic Festival – January 17th – 26th, 2014. There will be an Ice Magic Carve-Off at the Lake Louise Ski Resort – January 19th, 2014. Drop by this weekend and check out the view and the ice bar, perhaps.

The sandwich bar is one of two new food locations at Lake Louise Ski Resort.

WHITEHORN ICE BAR

The Ice Bar will open this Saturday on the Whitehorn Lodge deck.

TEMPLE SANDWICH BAR

Sandwich Bar open on top level of Temple Lodge.

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Photos of Ski Friends

• • •

A photo display of current Ski Friends. We are planning to post them in the Ski Friend room. The photos I already have will be posted in the Ski Friend room. If you are missing, I need a close-up mug shot photo of you in your Ski Friend jacket. Ask a collegue to take a mug shot similar to those you see on the right. Send it to [email protected]

(This way you can photo shop yourself and I won’t even know.)

I am missing a few names also. Let me know what has to be corrected.

Inform guests about these upcoming events

Children under 12 years old ski FREE January 18th and 19th, 2014* 2 Free Child Tickets per 1 Adult Ticket purchased,

including Louise Plus Card and any other Lake Louise day ticket (includes Costco ticket)

* 2 Free Child Tickets per 1 Adult Lake Louise Season Pass Ho lde r January 17-26: http://www.skilouise.com/things-to-do/events/fis-world-snow-day-2014-01-19.php

*Other events

January 18-19: Avalanche Awareness Days

January 19: FIS World Snow Day

January 25: Demo Day 2 January 25: Photographing

the Winter Landscape January 26: Australia Day January 26: Wild Turkey

Activation

PHOTO BOOK OF USHave a friend photograph you with an iPnone and email me the file.

[email protected]

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Lake Louise Ice Magic Festival – January 17th – 26th, 2014

Ice Magic Carve-Off at the Lake Louise Ski Resort – January 19th, 2014

In addition to the international Ice Carving at the Chateau Lake Louise, the artistry continues from 10.00a.m. at The Lake Louise Ski Resort, as two professional carvers go

head to head in a ‘Carve-Off’.

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Coordinator’s Report

• • •

January, 2014

Hello all,

I’m now back in Alberta and hope to see as many of you as possible at Lake Louise soon.

Each season we hold elections for two or three of our six executive positions. This year the positions of Vice Coordinator, Treasurer, and Communications Coordinator will be open for nominations. You will receive nomination documentation this month. Often there is little interest and many positions are filled by acclamation after the existing executive recruit a “volunteer.” Let’s change that pattern this season. I’d like to see lively competition amongst Ski Friends wanting to get involved with a desire to move the organization forward in continuous improvement. Please consider involvement very seriously. The bylaws (available on the website) give the job descriptions in paragraph 5.26.

I need to again mention the sterling support many of you provided in early December to host the DERTOUR guests. DERTOUR is the largest tour

operator in Germany. They are an umbrella company that owns several other travel trade businesses. They are hosted every year in different places around the world. The purpose of this is to familiarize their travel agents with new destinations

which they can then sell to customers. The following year, tourism from German speaking countries in the hosting area increases an average of 55%. This was their first tour to Alberta. In very cold temperatures with little of the mountain open, you still provided a remarkable insight into the vastness and variety of Lake Louise Ski Resort. Feedback from the guests was very positive. Compliments abound even now. I am impressed and thankful.

We have encountered novice skiers and boarders who show up for a tour when they should be taking lessons. If possible, we should identify this through questioning (the Operations Manual has guidance on this in paragraph 2.6). As diplomatically as possible, we should endeavour to refer them to the Ski School to avoid potentially being on hill for a long time with the resulting bad experience.

There are two new eateries: the Whitehorn Lodge and upstairs at Temple Lodge on the side opposite Sawyer’s Nook. If you have a chance (and need), try them out so you can give first hand recommendations to your guests.

The afternoon tour start time has reverted to 1:15. I will attempt to avoid changes of this sort in future to the extent possible.

Ski School lessons and calling cards - I have no new details but we are working on it.

Charlie Locke has asked that we file a Resort Report daily. We can document any aspect from snow conditions to restaurant facilities to Day Care and so on. It can include good things and things that need improvement. The report is due at 3:15 PM daily to Guest Services; it will go immediately to the Daily Operations Meeting held at 4:00 PM. Because of that timeframe, it would be great if initial discussions could take place at lunch. There will soon be a form in the room.

Don’t forget to check the Ski Friends website regularly for scheduling, heritage information and messages. And there is now a bulletin board which can be used for personal messages and chatting.

Finally, I would like to talk about the joy of being a Ski Friend. Among other things, it comes from helping others enjoy their LLSR experience to the maximum extent. There is great satisfaction in having people say they will come back again and again because we are there. Most Ski Friends feel this and devote their whole day to “working the crowd.” I also know there are some who haven’t yet caught the bug; they can be seen taking off to free ski for long periods. You are missing out; increase your enjoyment by becoming an engaged Ski Friend.

Rob Butler

Rob’s Report

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by Keiko Taskahashi• • •

Ticket Kiosk information

Q) DO THE MACHINES TAKE DEBIT CARDS ?A)  Yes, the machines take all debit and credit cards except for American Express cards that have a chip.

Q) CAN I USE MY LOUISE CARD AT THE KIOSK ON A PAID DAY AND ON A FREE DAY ?A)  Yes, you can use the Louise Plus Card at the kiosks for free or paid days. All the customer has to do is hold the barcode on the reverse of the card up to the scanner and type in their date of birth.

You can also scan multiple cards one at a time adding the birthday information each time.

The Kiosk should print as many tickets as needed.

Q) CAN I ACTIVATE A LOUISE CARD AT THE KIOSK ?

A)  Yes. After holding the barcode up to the scanner, the customer will be prompted to activate their Louise Card by entering their details. Note that this procedure can be sped up by holding the reverse of a Canadian driver's license up to the scanner and the kiosk will automatically fill in their details.

If a customer doesn't have a driver's license and has to input the information manually, the keyboard is missing @ mark for the e mail addresses. You have to touch shift 2.

Q) CAN I GET THE DISCOUNT YOUTH / CHILD TICKETS THAT MY LOUISE CARD / SEASON PASS / DIRECT -TO-LIFT / COSTCO TICKETS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ?A) Yes. Simply hold the barcode of any of the above items to the scanner on a kiosk, and a list of eligible discounts will be displayed on the screen. For Costco tickets, this

include 20% off a youth or child ticket? For Louise Cards, it's a discount on a child ticket.

Q) CAN I GET FREE TICKETS FOR 5 YEARS OLD AND UNDER AT THE KIOSK ?A) Yes. Simply touch any of the choices on the screen, the 5 years old and under choice will appear at the bottom. If you only want the 5 and under, cancel the one you don't need.

Q) CAN I GET HALF DAY TICKETS AT THE KIOSKS ?A) Yes. Half day tickets can be purchased from a kiosk after 12:15 pm or from Guest Service from 11:30am. Note that the tickets can't be scanned at the lift until 12:30pm.

Using the Ticket Kiosk Machines

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CHARLIE’S NEW YEARS PARTY

We headed down the slope from the Glacier Top Station, through the small terrain park onto Upper Wiwaxy and got lost. Rather than Men’s Downhill, we travelled the Upper Juniper terrain park and Juniper. Lost; but a great time.

Ski Friend burning up the slopes.

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Avalanche Awareness DaysCOMING UP THIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY- THE 18TH AND 19TH OF JANUARY.10:00am-3:00pm – Information booth in Whiskeyjack lodge. Giveaways, avalanche presentation on laptop, run by the avalanche crew who can answer any questions you have and provide information on being safe in avalanche country.

 10:00am-11:00am (Sunday only) – Dog demonstration (in the base area near daycare). Piles of snow are made and holes dug out. Children are allowed to hide in the holes and be found my the avalanche dog. Stickers and keyrings being given away.

 10:00am-12:00pm and 1:00-3:00pm – Beacon practice and snow profile talks on the beacon plot. Avalanche crew will be explaining how they use beacons in avalanched areas, and will be showing how to use this equipment to locate lost people.

 1:00-3:00pm – Avalanche gun giveaway in the base area (next to Glacier chair). A bombing gun will be set up and avalanche crew will be explaining how the machine works. They will be shooting children’s T-shirts out of the gun for them to catch and then keep.

Avalanche triggered on Whitehorn 2 by the Ski Patrol

AVALANCHE DANGER HIGHIn the past week there have been an number of avalanche incidents in the vicinity. The excitement of powder snow makes skiers and boarders a little insane. There was a call from Maintainance Run in West Bowl from a guest who was nervous about snow moving around him. Helicopter rescue.

Another was unable to extricate feet and skis and needed assistance.

A guest was buried and needed to be extricated and treated with CPR etc. Helicopter required. This weekend there will be updates on CBC about the conditions each day.

Perhaps some education about Avalanches during Awareness Days this weekend would be a good idea. Take the kids and get them and you started.

Next weekend is the Ski Friends Avalanche course. There is one spot still open if the present conditions motivate you to learn more. Participants need a shovel, a probe, and a beacon. All may be rented from the university or perhaps from some sport stores.

Warm conditions on Friday made the Kokanee Kabin deck look like it does in April which will be with us soon. Brown spots appeared on Upper Meadowlark and Meadowlark proper. Not what we want in the middle of January. And on Monday we had the huge dump of snow and no visibility. What a difference in a few days.

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